Apple Puff Pancake

Makes 4 servings

1 cup milk
5 large eggs
3 Tbs sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbs unsalted butter
4 tart apples (Granny Smith), peeled, quartered and sliced 1/4-inch-thick
3 Tbs (packed) golden brown sugar
Powdered sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in large bowl until well blended. Mix in flour until batter is smooth. Add butter to an ovenproof baking dish (cast iron is good), then place baking dish in oven until butter melts, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Place apple slices in overlapping rows on top of the melted butter. Return to oven and bake until apples soften slightly and butter is bubbling around edges of dish, about 10 minutes. Pour batter over apples and sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake pancake until puffed and brown, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar, if desired. Serve warm.